James Gurney

This daily weblog by Dinotopia creator James Gurney is for illustrators, plein-air painters, sketchers, comic artists, animators, art students, and writers. You'll find practical studio tips, insights into the making of the Dinotopia books, and first-hand reports from art schools and museums.

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All images and text are copyright 2015 James Gurney and/or their respective owners. Dinotopia is a registered trademark of James Gurney. For use of text or images in traditional print media or for any commercial licensing rights, please email me for permission.

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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

I arrived at the Dutchess County courthouse and sat in a big waiting room with a lot of other prospective jurors. We filled out our forms, watched the big TV on the wall, and waited. After two hours, the Commissioner of Jurors, Hooker Heaton, told us that there was no need for us after all. We were relieved of duty.

I was glad to return home to work, but I was also a little disappointed. I was kind of hoping to get a seat on the jury so I could play at being a sketch artist.

A few years ago, Jeanette got the call. She made it all the way to jury selection. She did a sketch of Mr. Vasti, the plaintiff’s attorney in a civil case.

Thanks, Steve. I don't know how long this took, because I did it during three sessions where HH made announcements. I did it with a Derwent graphite watercolor pencil. You can see the washes in his hair.

You are very kind with your compliments, but I'm not sure he was too thrilled with the sketch when I showed it to him and asked him to sign it. He asked me to come back in six years when I'm due next for jury duty, and he promised by then to lose 20 pounds.

Well, I'm glad you mentioned the issue of him not being "too thrilled" since it was clear he could slim down. I was going to ask about the potential awkwardness of showing someone a truthful representation when the truth might hurt. I experienced this recently with a painting done from reference photos. I think it could be even touchier when the subject didn't ask to be, or perhaps even knew, they were being sketched. The psychological qualities of that situation relate to an earlier GJ post/comments about sketching people in public.

Steve, I knew he would be cool with it actually. It ended up being a pretty close likeness, and he seemed like a well adjusted guy. He took it all in good humor. I guess he got what he paid for!

I asked him, by the way, if they still have courtroom artists, and he said they do once in a while if it's a notorious or newsworthy trial. Whenever the issue of cameras in the courtroom comes up, I always think of how it would displace the artists, but people discussing the issue on the news never mention that angle.

Great sketch..but would you really want to be on jury duty. I don't think a judge would take too kindly to sketching when you should be listening!As i have learned from a. morrocco b. the ny subway - not everyone is thrilled when you draw them :)

I've summoned for jury duty several times, once even being plucked off the street when enough of those summoned by mail failed to show, and I've never been selected. As soon as they hear "Artist" as an occupation they dismiss me. I've been told by those in the legal profession that lawyers don't want anyone who has imagination or thinks in non-traditional ways.

It turns out that lots of jurors draw! Here's an online gallery of juror art: http://jurylaw.typepad.com/photos/juror_artWish I'd saved my drawings from my last jury duty adventure. But there's always the next time...